I couldn't believe my ears.
"...A black mage?"
"Yes."
The professor bowed his head as if ashamed.
"The black mage slipped past our eyes and entered this forest. We're tracking him now, but... we haven't even found his location yet."
A black mage here?
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
This forest housed the Great Temple of the War God.
For those who opposed the gods like black mages to come here was like a criminal moving right in front of a police station.
Arcana wouldn't just let that slide...
Black mages were fools who sold their souls to the Calamity for power.
The Calamity despised the gods and sought to bring the continent to ruin.
There was no way the gods, who oversaw the continent, would ignore black mages who'd sold their souls to such a being.
Did she leave him alone on purpose...?
For whose sake?
For mine?
It made sense.
I was sorely lacking in real combat experience right now.
A fight with a black mage would be incredibly helpful.
I might even get some intel on the Calamity...
And if left alone, he could become a real threat later.
Better to take him out now.
It was also unavoidable if I wanted proper cooperation from Nipella Aoman.
"So, you don't know anything else right now?"
"Just his profile and rough power level."
"You can't leave until you catch him, right?"
"We have about three weeks before the entrance exam. If we don't catch him... well, I'd have to stay. But I don't even want to consider that. We're just praying he gets caught soon."
"Alright. Then I'll help."
"?"
Nipella Aoman looked at me with puzzled eyes.
I flashed a light smile.
"I can't just leave heretics like black mages alone."
"But then I'd owe you too much."
"Don't think of it as a debt. Just grant me one favor in return?"
"Of course. Anything."
"I'll tell you later. For now, shall we head in?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Soon, we arrived at the encampment.
A boy was standing outside.
Vodka bottle in his left hand, hollow eyes making him look like a total wreck.
Who's that?
A soldier?
But his clothes were too fine, his skin too smooth. The vibe wasn't that of a young recruit at all.
"Young master. Why are you out here?"
"...Professor Nipella. Where have you been?"
"I told you before I left—I was going to help the isolated soldiers with the support troops. Don't you remember?"
"My head's killing me from the hangover..."
Called "young master," he seemed to be the one who'd brought these soldiers here.
Kid of the local lord, maybe?
But why's he holding booze?
He looked like a kid, no matter how I sliced it.
No age restrictions here?
Well, who'd enforce that on a noble?
Unless they were high-ranking or something.
Parents must be neglecting him...
More than that, though, my eyes kept drifting to the bottle in his hand.
Booze...
Vodka.
In my past life, I'd died too young to properly enjoy even a bottle of soju.
This body was tough as nails, with divine power to boot. I could down that vodka and be fine.
Wanna try it...
But Arcana would chew me out.
I smacked my lips quietly inside.
Professor Nipella cast a spell on the young master and shoved him into a tent.
"Get inside, young master. No more drinking."
"But—"
"You can't use booze just to escape reality. You're going to be a lord someday—can you afford to be this weak? And didn't you say you wanted to go to Sky Academy?"
"Yeah..."
"Then booze is absolutely forbidden. Your hangover will clear up soon, so wait in the tent. I'm confiscating this."
Clack!
Nipella snatched the vodka.
"Ahh..."
The young master let out a lament, reaching out longingly, but the bottle was long gone.
Finally dropping his hand, his hollow eyes turned to me.
"...Who's that behind you?"
"The priest who saved me. Say hello."
I smiled and approached, offering my hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Eugene, servant of the gods."
"...Mosik Karma."
The boy hesitated before grasping my hand.
No calluses. Looked like he'd never done a hard day's work.
I narrowed my eyes.
Why's a kid like this in charge?
What's most important on a battlefield?
The commander. A skilled one can win even with inferior forces.
But an incompetent one? Even winnable fights turn to losses.
This isn't exactly a battlefield.
But close enough. The black mage was wearing down their forces with goblin grunts.
At this rate... it'll be a disaster.
Goblins weren't strong, but they bred fast and varied wildly in power.
And goblins turned into chimeras by a black mage? Rumor had it they rivaled mid-tier monsters.
When even skilled commanders would struggle, a weakling like this was troll-level trouble.
I know jack about the situation. Frustrating.
A black mage raid would actually be preferable.
I sighed inwardly but kept a soft smile on the outside.
"Hangover must suck."
"Ah, yeah..."
"I'll help a bit."
I channeled a bit of divine power through our clasped hands.
A small amount, but more than enough to wipe out hangover traces left by magic.
"Huh...?"
"Better?"
"Th-this..."
Dazed, he patted his head.
I let him be and glanced at my hand. While infusing divine power, I'd naturally scanned his body—and spotted something off.
His growth is stunted. And there's mana clumped around his head.
Like...
A curse.
Explained why he was here. With a black mage around, probably related.
I kept smiling.
"Feeling better?"
"Much... thank you, priest."
"All in a day's work. By the way, any headaches? Or growth issues?"
"Pardon? Oh, no... nothing like that."
Hiding something. I backed off without pressing.
"Got it. Rest is best for patients, so take it easy and sort things out."
I glanced at the soldiers behind.
He followed my gaze, nodding gravely.
"Thank you... Priest, you're welcome to stay. But please stick with Professor Nipella."
"Noted. Mind if I impose?"
"This way, priest. Young master. Be right there."
"Got it... Hurry."
"Of course."
The boy trudged past us heavily.
We entered a nearby tent. The professor sat me comfortably and let out an awkward laugh.
"Atmosphere's off, huh?"
"Yeah. I didn't mean to, but I checked the young master's condition. He's cursed."
The professor removed his monocle. His eyes were dark with worry.
"...Yes. The young master is cursed. To lift it, his teacher—me—and the lord sent soldiers into this forest together."
It wasn't a simple curse.
It stunted growth and weakened the mind. Seemed basic, but he was about my age.
Just 17. Blocking a boy's development and crumbling his spirit? Incredibly vicious.
Explained the wasted look, the underage drinking.
"Killing the black mage will definitely lift it?"
"Yes. I couldn't break the curse myself, but I found the key. Killing the black mage who entered this forest will do it."
Nipella's face was filled with certainty.
I nodded.
"Got it. Better kill the black mage ASAP then. I'll help."
"But that might burden you too much..."
"Nonsense. I won't let scum who mock the gods roam free."
That, and it'd make the young master see this as a "debt."
Linking up with nobles is never a bad move.
Nipella grabbed my hands, moved.
"Truly, thank you, priest...!"
What the hell did other priests do to him?
I stared at Nipella, on the verge of tears, bemused.
I hadn't said much—why the waterworks?
"Why'd you go missing, professor?"
Ahem. I cleared my throat to shift the mood.
"Ah... that."
His face darkened.
"Embarrassing, but I was ambushed. I yelled 'Stop!' but they came at me mercilessly. My combat skills aren't great."
Usually, foes hear "Stop!" and go, "He declared it—gotta stop!"
"The black mage?"
"Not sure. Could be someone who hates me hired them, or the black mage testing us... No clue."
I stroked my chin. Others besides the black mage?
"?"
Then, a weird presence hit me.
straight-up weird. Not from an ordinary person.
Dark, depressing. Made my stomach churn just sensing it.
"Excuse me a sec."
"Pardon? Priest, be careful. The attackers might still be here."
I ignored his warning and opened the tent flap. A new group milled about the camp—ones I hadn't seen before.
"Who're they?"
"Ah... reinforcements from Karma Territory, requested yesterday."
"Priest with 'em... and the culprit?"
"Pardon?"
"Excuse me."
I strode out toward the reinforcements.
"Hm? Who're you?"
"Wait, don't come closer..."
I shoved past the blockers.
A foul stench assaulted my nose. My cheek twitched. As a priest of the gods, an unbearable instinct burned inside.
"Hey."
I addressed a plain servant. Nothing special—brown hair, rough hands.
But I sensed it. Instinct whispered in my head.
"Yes?"
Punish the filth. Smite the god-mocker.
"You're the black mage, right?"
At my words, the servant's eyes changed. Hidden mana flared in those plain brown eyes.
The servant—no, black mage—leaped back.
"Wh-what?!"
"Hey! Linehit! Your servant, right?!"
"I-I didn't know..."
The robe he'd worn as a servant billowed. A staff with a goat's head emerged.
Unknown words spilled from the black mage's lips.
"Mysterious incantation echoes forth!"
⟨ Necrotic Summon ⟩
The earth split, and skeletal warriors crawled out.
Clack, clack!
"Ooh, skeletons? Ugly bunch. They take after you?"
I taunted lightly, extending both hands forward.
Holy Barrier.
Woooong—.
"Th-this is..."
"M-Marin, priest! Do something!"
"I-I..."
I raised a hand to the murmuring crowd.
"Stay inside the holy barrier and don't move. And you, priest—meet me later?"
Couldn't even detect this reeking black mage?
His divine power looked weak too. No idea why he came with reinforcements.
Ignoring the trembling priest, I inhaled deeply. Crouched low, kicked off the ground, and charged.
Clack, clack!
Skeletons swung their weapons.
No need to smash—just a light kick to one's skull, landing right before the black mage.
Before he finished casting, I landed close and swung my divine-power-charged hand.
"!"
Divine power infiltrated his magic circle, disrupting the cast.
The black mage grimaced, raising his staff.
"A mere priest dares?!"
Good stance. But still, just a mage.
"Mere priest?"
Thwack! I grabbed the swinging goat staff.
"...!"
Ignoring his shock, I squeezed.
Crack!
The staff shattered. I seized the recoiling black mage's collar.
"Say that again."
"A m-mere priest..."
"Yeah. What're you gonna do when a 'mere priest' breaks your staff?"
I properly summoned divine power to knock him out.
Feeling it climb his arm, the black mage paled.
"The beginning is utterly ruined..."
He frantically chanted. But I gave no opening.
Slammed him straight into the ground.
Crack! The earth cratered in a circle.
To be safe, I stomped the embedded black mage's head.
"...!"
Lifting my foot, broken teeth spilled from split lips.
I sneered at the black mage, out after one hit.
"Tch, mage who gives up ground?"
I dusted my filthy hands and turned.
"Hey, come restrain him quick..."
"..."
"..."
"?"
Everyone gaped at me.